Husker to Watch:Defensive end Adam Carriker (6-6, 280 Sr.)No team put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season than the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who finished the year with a total of 50 sacks to lead the nation. Much of that pressure was applied by Carriker, a huge end who racked up 9.5 sacks by himself as a junior. The Huskers are loaded at d-end with Jay Moore and Barry Turner also returning, but it's Carriker who opposing quarterbacks, and offensive linemen, fear the most.

Wildcat to Watch:Left tackle Derek MeyerThe job of containing Carriker is likely to fall upon the broad shoulders of Meyer, a 6-foot-6, 301-pound redshirt freshman who'll be asked to help keep K-State's quarterbacks on their feet against the Big Red's pass rush. Meyer should have plenty of motivation to do just that, as it will be the first opportunity for the Campbell, Neb., native to play against his home-state program as a Wildcat.

Instant Analysis: Nebraska is virtually everybody's favorite in the Big 12 North Division after Zac Taylor and crew closed out the 2005 season with wins over Kansas State, Colorado and Michigan in the Alamo Bowl. It's easy to forget, however, that before inching past the Wildcats in Lincoln that the Huskers had lost three straight and four out of five, including a 40-15 drubbing at Kansas and 41-24 defeat at Missouri.